Nexus Ascension: My Comprehension Defies the Heaven Chapter 1: Blue Star

Blue Star, Nova City

Nova City sprawled enormously. Anti-gravity trains raced across the skies linking colossal skyscrapers, as hovering billboards and advanced airships broadcast advertisements and updates.

Nestled in Sector 6 lay Nova-5 High School, among the various institutions managed by the Nova City Governor.

In the teacher’s office, Teacher Jared scowled at the student facing him.

"Grey, you know why I called you here, right?" he asked.

Grey Lockhart, the student, gazed at Teacher Jared in bewilderment. At 17 years old, he sported unkempt long black hair, small black eyes, pallid skin, and a plump physique—utterly ordinary.

Grey arched a brow. "Is this about not telling anyone what happened with Miss Rachel yesterday?"

Teacher Jared’s face shifted subtly, an embarrassed flush crossing it, and with a twitching expression, he uttered in a chilly voice, "You should already know what will happen if you speak about it to others."

This was a blatant intimidation, and Grey recognized it instantly, yet it failed to unsettle him—the former Grey might have trembled, but he had changed.

As a proud Earthling from the height of the internet era, a mere warning from an evolver held no terror for him.

He had transmigrated just 10 days prior, and in that time, he had fully grasped every detail of this realm.

This world diverged sharply from his original Earth, boasting superior technology and far greater perils.

Evolvers—beings with extraordinary abilities—emerged around 10,000 years ago when an energy tempest from Blue Star’s core surged to the surface, exposing humanity to Cosmic energy. Alongside it, pioneers uncovered three ancient records and a unique relic.

Those records outlined Blue Star’s three primary evolutionary paths: the Immortal Cultivation Path, Martial Path, and Esper Path.

Thus dawned the grand age of evolvers.

Initially, only one in a million could pursue these paths, and with Blue Star’s ten billion inhabitants, tensions flared between evolvers and common folk.

Old-era scientists refined the ancient paths, spawning myriad new variants. Over time, anyone with sufficient funds and suitable affinity could ascend as an Evolver. Gradually, Blue Star’s populace adapted, enabling more to tread the three great evolutionary paths.

Teacher Jared’s icy tone interrupted Grey’s reflections. "Grey, I’ll get straight to it. I want you to drop out of the school—voluntarily."

Grey remained composed upon hearing this, feeling utterly unmoved.

Grey Lockhart possessed zero talent. None of Blue Star’s hundreds of evolutionary paths suited him. Despite adaptations for mortals by ancient scholars, some like him still couldn’t channel Cosmic energy due to lacking compatibility.

Compatibility—talent—was paramount, and Grey had none. He was fated to linger as a mortal, envious as peers ascended.

That mindset belonged to the previous Grey, not him.

He refused to surrender!

Since arriving here, exhilaration had gripped him. Sky-soaring humans, hand-launched energy blasts—fantasies from Earth now tangible. He rejected powerlessness.

How could he, a webnovel aficionado from Earth, settle for mortality?

Never. He vowed to evolve into a mighty evolver rivaling Blue Star’s elites.

"No." Grey replied coolly, his face impassive.

"No?" Teacher Jared scoffed. "I won’t take no for an answer, Grey. This is for your own good—and for the school. You’re the only one in your class who hasn’t become an evolver. Nova-5 isn’t suited for you. You’ll never be an evolver here, and staying will only ruin the school’s reputation."

He hesitated, then continued, "If you drop out now, I’ll personally arrange your admission to Scholar University in Nova City. And..." He reached into his pocket, producing a slim glass card embedded with a chip.

It was a bank note—scanning it via phone would transfer funds instantly to the account.

"5,000 Union Credits," Teacher Jared stated. "Take it if you leave—and keep this between us. Don’t tell your sister."

Recalling Grey’s sister stirred unease in Teacher Jared.

Alissa Lockhart matched Grey’s age yet held a license as an evolver from the Nova City Evolver Association. A 1st-rank prodigy in Nova-5’s Elite class, she stood unchallenged by most.

Jared dreaded Alissa discovering his scheme with Grey, fearing her intervention. Yet, considering their strained sibling bond—her contempt for her "useless" brother—he doubted she’d object, even if informed.

Grey eyed the bank note in Teacher Jared’s grasp and chuckled.

"No thanks." Grey grinned. "I don’t plan on leaving the School until the third year ends and according to rules no one, not even the principal can directly expel a student unless they break rules and so far, I have done no such things."

He paused thoughtfully, then pulled out his phone and activated a peculiar video. "If you try to frame me, I will directly publish this into the school chat group."

Hailing from Earth and versed in countless novels with such plots, Grey had anticipated this and prepared accordingly.

"YOU!" Teacher Jared roared, springing up, fury contorting his features. Yet he restrained himself—assaulting a student invited dire repercussions, especially with Grey’s video leverage.

"Despite your build, you’re rather..." Grey regarded Teacher Jared pityingly and shook his head. "Maybe even becoming an evolver cannot fix that huh..."

"Bastard..." Teacher Jared’s visage twisted hideously. He yearned to crush Grey but endured, clenching his fury.

"Anyway, I’ll take my leave," Grey said with a faint smile. "I hope we don’t make things difficult for each other. I won’t bother you, and I hope you won’t bother me. Farewell, Teacher Jared."

Outside Nova-5 High School.

Grey lingered at the bus stop. Noon had passed. He’d only visited Nova-5 High to confront Teacher Jared—final-year students like him no longer required classes.

Suddenly, a presence stirred within his mind. A vast lotus materialized, etched with complex patterns, its petals emanating a brilliant, enigmatic glow.

"Is it fully charged?" Grey whispered, his eyes gleaming as he concentrated.

This enigmatic lotus had resided in his mind since transmigration; he suspected it as his golden finger cheat.

Buzz!

As thoughts swirled, clear words surfaced in his awareness from the lotus:

"Defy Death. Defy the Dao. Defy Heaven. Defy Reality itself."